Air, noise pollution show decline this Diwali

New Delhi, Oct 22: Air and noise pollution this Diwali have shown a decline. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee's monitoring of ambient air quality at 40 locations and noise levels at 30 locations on Diwali night has shown comparative decline in Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) and Carbon Monoxide concentration at 28 places.

The concentration of SPM varied from 627 to 3297 µg/m3 this year while it was recorded 740-5790 µg/m3 in 2005.

The concentration of NO2 ranges from 22 to 466 µg/m3 while the range observed in 2005 was 30-202 µg/m3.

The maximum concentration was observed at Daryaganj and minimum at R K Puram.

The observed range of Carbon Monoxide varied from 750 to 4750 µg/m3. The maximum concentration was observed at Paharganj and minimum at Vasant Kunj.

The results show improvement in some indicators of ambient air quality and improving trends in prevention of noise pollution.

DPCC teams visited nine districts and observed the noise and ambient air pollution. It found that the noise levels increased from 1800 hrs and reached its maximum around 22 hrs.

However, due to favorable weather conditions the smoke started dispersing and considerably reduced by mid-night.

UNI